Big 12 Unveils Weekday Football Schedule for 2026 Season

Key matchups and dates revealed for conference's nine weekday games

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:59pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstracted college football game, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in vibrant colors.The Big 12's 2026 weekday schedule promises several intriguing matchups that could shape the conference race.Kansas City Today

The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2026 weekday football schedule, which will feature nine games played on weekdays, primarily on Fridays. The schedule includes several notable matchups, including the renewal of the Kansas-Missouri border rivalry, Houston at Texas Tech, and several games involving new Big 12 members UCF and Colorado.

Why it matters

The release of the Big 12's weekday schedule generates excitement for the upcoming 2026 college football season and provides fans with a preview of some key conference matchups. The schedule features several high-profile games that could have major implications for the conference standings and playoff race.

The details

The Big 12's weekday slate kicks off on September 11 with Kansas hosting Missouri in their border rivalry game. Other notable Friday games include Houston at Texas Tech on September 18, Iowa State at BYU on October 9, and Baylor at UCF on October 30. The conference will also play five weekday games in November, including TCU at Arizona on November 6, Houston at Colorado on November 13, and UCF hosting Iowa State on November 20. The regular season will conclude with a Thanksgiving weekend matchup between TCU and Texas Tech, followed by West Virginia at Utah on Black Friday.

  • The Big 12's weekday schedule was announced on April 11, 2026.
  • The first weekday game is Kansas vs. Missouri on September 11, 2026.
  • The final weekday game is West Virginia at Utah on November 27, 2026 (Black Friday).

The players

Brett Yormark

The commissioner of the Big 12 Conference.

Cody Campbell

A billionaire booster of the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Scott Frost

The head coach of the UCF Knights, trying to guide the team to its first winning record since 2022.

Dave Aranda

The head coach of the Baylor Bears, working to stave off hot-seat conversations.

Morgan Scalley

The first-year head coach of the Utah Utes.

Rich Rodriguez

The head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, still working to establish himself at the prior stop.

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What’s next

Fans will eagerly await the release of the full 2026 Big 12 football schedule to see how these weekday matchups fit into the overall conference slate.

The takeaway

The Big 12's announcement of its 2026 weekday schedule provides an early glimpse into some of the key conference matchups and storylines to watch for the upcoming season. Fans can look forward to several high-profile Friday night games that could have major implications for the conference race and playoff picture.